During a visit to the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told students to take off their face masks, calling the masks “ridiculous.”
“So, if you want to wear it, that’s fine, but this is – this is ridiculous,” DeSantis can be heard saying faintly to students gathered behind a lectern in a video posted to his own Twitter page. He huffed as he turned towards the lectern.
According to a press release from the Republican governor’s office, he was at the Tampa university to announce $20 million in funding to create and expand cybersecurity and IT training opportunities.
“Last school year, nearly 143,000 Florida middle and high school students were enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs that accelerate cybersecurity and IT pathways,” said the press release.
A video shared by WFLA News shows more of DeSantis’ mask comments.
“You do not have to wear those masks. I mean, please take them off,” he said as he approached the students. People gathered around the governor can be heard laughing.
“I mean honestly, its not doing anything, and we’ve got to stop with this COVID theater,” DeSantis continued.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released updated, relaxed mask guidance for many areas of the country, DeSantis’ anti-mask stance goes back to at least last summer. In July, he issued an executive order prohibiting public schools from requiring students to wear masks.
Last year, DeSantis followed through on threats to fine city and local governments $5,000 for every employee who was required to get vaccinated to maintain employment, according to NBC News.
Shortly after New Year’s Day, Florida “ranked fourth among states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis,” according to a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data. As of Wednesday, Florida ranked 10 on a Becker’s Hospital Review list of highest COVID-19 death rates by state.
Data from the Florida Department of Health shows that there was a 5.6 percent case positivity rate from Feb. 18 to Feb. 24 and that 74 percent of the state’s population was vaccinated. CDC data from the same week showed that COVID-19 cases continue to decline in the U.S.
Even though the CDC relaxed mask guidelines, it still acknowledges that “layered prevention strategies – like staying up to date on vaccines and wearing masks – can help prevent severe illness and reduce the potential for strain on the healthcare system.”
According to NBC News, DeSantis could be eyeing a presidential run 2024 and his stance on masks appeals to some conservatives who are opposed to mandates.
Related
Related
